NFL Top 100 of 2019: Detroit Lions CB Darius Slay ranks 86th

The NFL Top 100 players of 2019 list is underway this year. We’re only 20 players in and we’ve already heard a Detroit Lions player named.

For the second straight year, cornerback Darius Slay has made it on the list. However, after being named the 49th-best player last season, Slay dropped all the way to 86 this year.

Since the entire list hasn’t been revealed yet, it’s hard to know where Slay stands compared to other cornerbacks in the league. However, Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller (95) and Cowboys corner Byron Jones (97) have already been named to the list and came in lower than Slay.

Though Slay had what some would consider a down year in 2018, he still tallied 17 passes defended and made his second consecutive Pro Bowl. Making this NFL Top 100 list for two years in a row is no small accomplishment either, seeing as these lists were voted on by his fellow players.

Not everyone was thrilled with his ranking, however.

Here are some of the things his colleagues said about Slay in his segment on the countdown.

Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White:

“Darius Slay is one of the guys that I love to watch. Just going on YouTube watching one-on-one matchups between Darius Slay and A.J. Green, Darius Slay and Odell. I love to watch one-on-one matchups so the guy that I like to watch that I kind of like to pattern my game after is Darius Slay. I love his game.”

Packers receiver Davante Adams:

“Slay is a guy that I’ve got a lot of respect for. We have some good battles twice a year. Real patient guy, got some of the better feet I’ve seen, too. Top-three ball skills. Between him, probably Pat P. and maybe a guy like Talib or somebody like that, as far as getting to the ball and actually catching the ball.

“He’s real confident, too. You can see it in his play style. The way he goes after guys, you can kind of feel his presence out there.”

Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara:

“Man, that’s a guy who’s a playmaker. He’s going to go after the ball. I saw a play against the Vikings where Theien is open and he just comes off his guy and picks the ball.”

(Here’s the play he’s referencing)

Adams, who notoriously had Slay’s number last year, finished the segment with a nice little quip.

“Tell Slay he better say some good shit about me.”

Adams has not appeared on the countdown yet.